Wonderful getaway, well... from everything. Nice beach spot away from it all…read more A bit of history, John Huston shot parts of "Night of The Iguana" a few feet away, you can walk to the precise location from the beach and yes, there are iguanas on the way. The movie put Puerto Vallarta on the travel map, so it is part of the area's history. You can rent a boat and guide services and can do some nice snorkeling from here and see some great rocks out in the water. The beach isn't crowded, you can spend a day here, rent chairs, have some lunch here- the grilled fish was a memorable meal for us, everything they make here is fresh and full of flavor, get some drinks. Locals are very nice, helpful and great hosts. One of a kind spot, if you visit PV, Mismaloya is just a cab drive away and it is a nice beach to relax, enjoy a meal, a drink, a swim in the ocean. Unique corner of the paradise!

Beautiful place. It doesn't disappoint. Warm water in July when I visited. Many friendly people to…read moretour you around the water to view it beautiful qualities.

You can only get to this beach via water taxi or a pretty rigorous hike. I would recommend the…read morewater taxi! Definitely worth the trip, but it can be crowded so I would avoid it on high traffic weekends.

This was my old draft- but I'm back here…read more Nicest beach here!. White sand, clean. Not so calm water, but gorgeous. Perfect for morning walk. Loved it on my last visit. Still gorgeous now. Happy thanksgiving!

Beautiful beach with not many people around. We were staying at an Airbnb about a 10 minute walk…read morefrom this beach. We arrived around 1-2pm and only saw about 4 other families. There wasn't much shade unless you had an umbrella or were under the trees. The beach has a lot of rocks which is the only thing that I didn't like but not a big deal. We spent about an hour before we headed back up the hill. On our way back we found a lady shucking oysters so my husband and I bought some to eat right there. Some of the freshest oysters we have ever tried.

At playas Los Muertos , you can do it all here…read more.. Lounging all day on our hotel's beach chairs for the past three days was the way to go for us. We didn't even use the pool. While soaking in the warm sun (overcast morning til 10a), snoozing, eating, drinking and people watching, I didn't want the day to end. Never got to see our hotel room until later in the evening. Lots of vendors all over the beach, just need to learn to tune them off if not interested and simply say "no thank you." However, good luck, with the persistence ones. We got our foot massage by Alejandro Molina, a couple times one day. He's that guy walking through the Los Muertos beach with all his equipment: black folding seat, large umbrella, yellow towels, massage ball, head and feet cushions, and massage chair if you prefer over hotel lounge chair. We liked our food vendors: you can hear David a mile away selling his oysters, Miguel (clams) wearing "Mexican viagra" t-shirt , Sebastian with his smile and sombrero selling mangos and lastly, Zeke and son "Zeke Ceviche" selling their ceviche tostadas. If you're not staying in a hotel by playas Los Muertos, beach vendors and restaurants on the beach will charge you anywhere from 150 pesos to 450 pesos for their chairs, table and umbrella (depends on your food consumption at their restaurant). The beach can get packed up until sunset with lots of beach goers and passer-bys, locals or non local, the entire beach is lively and busy. Lastly, a must see sunset. Next to Mazatlan and La Paz, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has one of the best sunsets. At playas Los Muertos , you can do it all here... Lounging all day on our hotel's beach chairs for the past three days was the way to go for us. We didn't even use the pool. While soaking in the warm sun (overcast morning til 10a), snoozing, eating, drinking and people watching, I didn't want the day to end. Never got to see our hotel room until later in the evening. Lots of vendors all over the beach. You just need to learn to tune them off if not interested and simply say "no thank you." However, good luck, with the persistence ones. We got our foot massage by Alejandro Molina, a couple times one day. He's that guy walking through the Los Muertos beach with all his equipment: black folding seat, large umbrella, yellow towels, massage ball, head and feet cushions, and massage chair if you prefer over hotel lounge chair. We liked our food vendors: you can hear David a mile away selling his oysters, Miguel (clams) wearing "Mexican viagra" t-shirt , Sebastian with his smile and sombrero selling mangos and lastly, Zeke and son "Zeke Ceviche" selling their ceviche tostadas. If you're not staying in a hotel by playas Los Muertos, beach vendors and restaurants on the beach will charge you anywhere from 150 pesos to 450 pesos for their chairs, table and umbrella (depends on your food consumption at their restaurant). The beach can get packed up until sunset with lots of beach goers and passer-bys, locals or non local, the entire beach is lively and busy. Lastly, a must see sunset. Next to Mazatlan and La Paz, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has one of the best sunsets.

It's the main beach when you arrive to the romantic zone of Puerto Vallarta. It's a long stretch of…read morewaterfront with hotels and restaurants situated above it. Depending on where you are, it's public so there's people laying out and enjoying the water. There's also lounges that's available for the day. Each section is different as they all have different color lounges, some with umbrellas and some that's part of the hotel. Also, restaurants have seating on the sand which offers full menu of food and drinks. Waiter service. As for what section you're in, you could order food and drinks if you're utilizing the chairs or beds. Vendors walk up and down selling their goods as well as fruit, and seafood trays being offered for purchase. People also lay out in-front of the lounges with their own towels and chair as it's public beach. You can also enjoy water activities from the pier. It's the staple beach for this area so you'll have both locals and visitors all doing the same thing, enjoy the water and sun.

Made reservations to go snorkeling at 9am yesterday, we arrived a few minutes early and they were…read moreready for us. I believe our guide was Chipol (apologies if we got his name wrong) - he was terrific! My wife and I were the only 2 on the boat, a well-equipped panga with a nice canopy. He drove us around the largest island, and we got to see our first blue- footed boobie! The snorkeling was very good, water pretty good with about 30'+ visibility. Saw LOTS of fish, schools of many different types - was excellent! We were probably in water about 30 minutes, we had enough. Chipol took us near the shoreline, and pointed out different sites. He obviously takes great pride in his work and the area - he stopped a couple groups not outfitted with life vests as required in the Preserve area. Highly recommend Mismaloya Adventures for snorkeling and diving!!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about our divemaster Lily. Her, her Dad and captain Manual…read moreare an amazing family and it was such a pleasure to meet them and so awesome to get to dive with her. Lily is a smart, generous, kind, trusting person who really knows her diving stuff. She made me feel comfortable as it's been a couple of years since i last dove and I was very nervous. It was also my 13 year olds sons real first open water dive (since he PADI qualified 2 years ago), Lily instructed and guided him, let him practice, it was a very nice relaxed paced, and I trusted Lilly with mine and my family's life. I would without a doubt dive with Lily again next time we are in PV. I would recommend her to everyone I know and everyone who would like to diver here in PV. She took us to the best spots and even took her GoPro, took so many photos and videos of us on our two dives together and then she downloaded them all to my phone. We all are very happy we booked with Mismaloya Adventures. It was such a fun experience I really would love to do it tomorrow too! I would HIGHLY recommend booking with Mismaloya for diving or any of your future adventures! Love, Jill Steven and Logan

I booked a sunset paddle boarding tour with Paddle Zone in Mismaloya, and since no one else signed…read moreup, I ended up with a private tour. My guide, Diego, made everything feel easy and relaxed and brought water and snacks to enjoy during breaks on the water. We spent around 2-3 hours on the water, so it's great for those who are at least somewhat physically fit. The guides are pretty flexible about taking breaks as needed. The tour included snorkeling in bioluminescent water (which was very fun) and they took great photos of me paddling, (included in the package). After several hours on the water, they offered freshly-made pizza and other food for a cost, which was the perfect meal after a long time on the water. The whole staff was friendly and made me feel welcome especially since I was a solo traveler. It was a great value, would highly recommend this tour to everyone!

We had such an amazing morning at Paddle Zone with our guide, German. We kayaked to Los Arcos and…read morepaddled through the arches and looped around each island. We also did some snorkeling at the marine sanctuary and saw a trigger fish, puffer fish, and other tropical fish. And we saw many bird species nesting on the rocks, including blue-footed boobies, and baby pelicans. Frigate birds were soaring overhead. They provided water and snacks while out on the water. German also gave us some history and context of the islands at Los Arcos (stories of love and lightening included), and explained some of the biology of the animals. It was moderately physical kayaking out to Los Arcos, but you can go slow and take rests as needed. And when we got back they surprised us with an amazing spread of fresh fruit and homemade cookies. Oh and they documented our outing with photos during the adventure. Definitely recommend this place!

1000/10 recommend! Rhythms of the night was unlike anything…read moreI had ever experienced. The place was beautiful, the buffet was good and the performance was amazing! The boat ride with David and his crew was also fun and everyone was so nice and attentive. Definitely coming back !

The Las Caletas excursion was hands down the best excursion we have ever experienced. From start to…read morefinish, it was exceptional in every way. Our adventure began with a scenic 45-minute boat ride to the island, and from the moment we stepped on board, the staff made us feel like VIP guests. We were welcomed with smiles, fresh orange juice, coffee drinks, and helpful information about the day ahead. The energy was upbeat and fun, with lively music and entertainment that made the journey fly by. To top it all off, we even spotted dolphins swimming alongside the boat on the way over. It was a magical moment that set the tone for the day. Once we arrived at Las Caletas, we were greeted with a delicious welcome taco buffet. Every staff member we encountered was genuinely friendly, attentive, and joyful. The beach was beautiful and peaceful. Although all the beach chairs were taken when we arrived, a server came right over, took our drink order, and promised to bring chairs out to us, which he did within minutes. That kind of thoughtful service continued the entire day. The unlimited drinks were a huge plus. You did not even need to leave your towel or chair. Servers came by about every ten minutes, offering refills or checking if you needed anything else. Their attention made relaxing on the beach even more enjoyable. The beach was perfect, and the water was stunning, crystal clear, and comfortably warm. Lifeguards were not only stationed on the sand but also in the water, keeping a close eye on everyone. At one point, we saw them immediately assist a mother and her young child who had fallen off a paddleboard. Their attention and quick response were impressive and reassuring. Snorkeling was the highlight of the day. My teenage daughter and I spent about 45 minutes exploring the water and were amazed by the colorful fish swimming right beneath us. The gear was easy to check out and in excellent condition. We also booked a monkey encounter, which was fun and memorable, and the buffet lunch overlooking the turquoise bay was picture-perfect. The food was fresh and tasty, and the setting was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The boat ride back was just as fun as the trip there. The crew passed out margaritas and beer, played party music, and put on a hilarious show that had everyone laughing and singing along. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. I have never been on an excursion quite like this. It was thoughtful, safe, relaxing, and fun all at once. Every detail was handled with care, and it truly felt like a little slice of paradise. If you are sailing anywhere near Puerto Vallarta, do not miss Las Caletas. It is absolutely unforgettable.

This is a tourist trap disguised as a family owned restaurant. Great location right next to the…read morebeach. Asked the owner for a recommendation and she suggested the stuffed mahi mahi for 390 - most expensive item. It was just okay. And I got a bottle of water and was charged 90. Total ripoff. Gave her 500 to cover everything and hope she choked on my 20 peso tip.

Decent food in a beautiful setting that's also a functioning water taxi and fishing site created a…read moremostly pleasant, but non-amazing experience. Mi Ranchito is part of the growing shoreline in the small village of Boca de Tomatlán at the mouth of an inlet roughly 10 miles south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. Construction was busy in several newish places as we walked from the parking area to the restaurant which sits right on the water. We stopped here for lunch as part of an ATV tour. The cafe is open air and covered, benefiting from a cool breeze blowing in off the pacific. Inside is comfortable, with sand for a floor that feels nice on bare feet. The menu is standard. We ordered ceviche, which came as a very large portion. The Mexican salsa, a tomato, jalapeño, and onion mixture common in this area, was spicier than others we've had. One of our party ordered the Pineapple Surprise, a drink that is served inside a carved pineapple, with a face made of fruit and toothpicks on the front. It was definitely a crowdpleaser. Other dishes we tried were octopus- based and rated fine to not so good. My only minor gripe is the table server used her rapport with us to hit us with a sales pitch for necklaces made of whale bones and shells. Her prices were high and, as always here, negotiating tactics were strong. I typically just wave the vendors off cuz they seem to get pissy if you take an interest then decide not to buy. I'd rather not mix that dynamic with table service. Other than that, three stars for Mi Ranchito. And I expect this area will likely grow in the coming years to have some better competition. The location is great!

Good food, music, and sunsets. What more could you ask for? Try the fish chicharonnes! They are…read moregreat!

Found this little beachfront bar and decided to give it a try. We travel to Puerto Vallarta at…read moreleast once (and usually twice) per year and wanted to mix things up. El Solar is no-frills, but it's great if you aren't high maintenance and want a place where you can drink and dine steps away from the ocean. If you come here, stick to the drinks. They were tasty and strong, with creative combinations. The food, on the other hand, was a massive miss. We ordered the garlic shrimp pan for $180 pesos and were disappointed. The shrimp was seasoned well, but the portion size was really small. The bread it was served with was stale and gross. We enjoyed the complimentary bowl of chips and salsas more than the appetizer. Next up we got shrimp tacos in pastor and baja styles (3 small tacos per order, $230 pesos each). The tacos fared a little better, but we didn't enjoy them as much as everyday street tacos that you can get from carts around town. My tacos had an off-putting, super bright, neon orange color to them (see photos) that admittedly freaked me out. I ate them, but I still wonder what made them that color! The shrimp was grilled with chunks of pineapple, red onion, and cilantro. The baja style shrimp tacos were traditional and battered and fried, with lettuce and sauce. The food wasn't bad, but I would not eat here again. The drinks were the real deal. Creative cocktails, including the incredibly tasty watermelon margarita, were home runs. Note that the drinks are VERY small, so you will want to order at least two per person (okay, maybe three). They also aren't as cheap as you can get drinks at other, more local bars around town, however. The setting is nice, including a large outdoor patio and seats directly in the sand on the beach. This is a public beach, so don't expect resort quality amenities. We didn't notice vendors coming up to anyone though, which is rare in Mexico. If you look like a tourist, they will bug you. The beach isn't glamorous, but it's a nice place to sit out and listen to the ocean breeze. Note that this place is near an open dumpster so if it's super hot or windy, you WILL get a wiff of nasty garbage. Note that this place is strictly CASH ONLY, or at least that's what they told us on the day we visited. Is this true all the time? I'm not sure. But bring pesos or US dollars just in case.